Wilmington City Council to Meet Tomorrow (Thursday, May 16) In Regular Session

Posted on 05/15/2013 5:29 pm

Wilmington City Council President Theo Gregory, on behalf of all Members of Council, today invited citizens to attend the next meeting of Council which will be held tomorrow, Thursday, May 16, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the first floor of the Louis L. Redding City/County Building. Citizens who cannot attend are invited by the Council President to view the meeting live or on replay on WITN, Channel 22 on the Comcast system, or online live or anytime at WITN22.org.

City Council will consider and vote on Ordinances on Thursday related to the City’s Fiscal Year 2014 Operating Budget and Capital Budget as well as Ordinances related to the City’s property tax rate, and water, sewer and stormwater fees.

Council President Gregory said Council’s formal agenda for its regular meetings includes a synopsis or summary immediately following the formal listing of each Ordinance or Resolution so citizens are better able to understand and follow the proceedings of Council. The agenda for the May 16 meeting is as follows, beginning with the name of the sponsoring Council Member:

FREEL

#3799

Ord. 13-009

Amend Chapter 45 of the City Code Regarding Sewer System Unit Charges, Water Rates and Charges and Storm Water Rates and Charges for Fiscal Year 2014 (3rd & Final Reading)

Synopsis:This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council is authorizing a 12% increase in the City’s water and sewer rate and an 11% increase in stormwater fees. The weighted average of the increase for water, sewer and stormwater is 11.9%. This rate increase is part of a multiple year plan to stabilize and strengthen the City’s Water, Sewer and Stormwater Fund, to provide sufficient resources for new or existing infrastructure needs as well as improvements to and maintenance of the water and sewer systems. If approved, this increase would become effective on July 1, 2013. The monthly increase for a residential property owner is approximately an additional five dollars based on the monthly use of 15,000 gallons of water.

#3798

Ord. 13-010

Establish a Rate of Taxation on Real Property and the Taxable Property of Public Utilities for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2013 through June 30, 2014 (3rd & Final Reading)

Synopsis:This Ordinance is being presented by the Administration for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing no increase in the City’s current property tax rate of $1.7670 per $100 of assessed value of a property. With the approval of this Ordinance, it will mark the third consecutive fiscal year that Wilmington’s property tax rates have not been increased.

Rev. 1

#3800

Sub. 1 Ord. 13-011

Adopt a Capital Program for the Six Fiscal Years 2014-2019, Inclusive (3rd & Final Reading)

Synopsis:This is a Substitute Ordinance for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing a six-year capital budget plan for the City. The Capital Budget is funded through the issuance of general obligation bonds with a resulting debt service obligation on the part of the City requiring yearly cash payments over a particular period of time to repay the interest and principal on a debt. Items funded in capital budgets often include repair, renovation and construction of facilities, infrastructure, streets, etc. The FY 2014 – FY 2019 Capital Program and Budget document, reflecting the action taken at the May 13th Finance Committee to delete the Land Acquisition and Site Improvements project located under the Mayor’s Office, per Substitute No. 1 to Ordinances 13-011 and 13-012. The Substitute Ordinance deletes $2 million from the FY 2014 Budget year and $2 million from the out years, resulting in a reduction of $4,120,000 for the six-year program due to the savings from the associated finance costs ($120,000). The project deletion does not affect the 5% for Art allocation. The revised Budget is $71,721,000. The revised five out years add $147,286,000, bringing the revised six-year Program to $219,007,000.

Rev. 1

#3801

Sub. 1 Ord. 13-012

Adopt a Capital Budget for Fiscal Year 2014 (3rd & Final Reading)

Synopsis:This is a Substitute Ordinance for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing an FY 2014 Capital Budget plan for the City. The Substitute Ordinance deletes $2 million from the FY 2014 Budget year. The Capital Budget is funded through the issuance of general obligation bonds with a resulting debt service obligation on the part of the City requiring yearly cash payments over a particular period of time to repay the interest and principal on a debt. Items funded in capital budgets often include repair, renovation and construction of facilities, infrastructure, streets, etc.

Rev. 1

#3802

Sub. 1 Ord. 13-013

Adopt the Annual Operating Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning on July 1, 2013 and Ending on June 30, 2014 (3rd & Final Reading)

Synopsis:This is a Substitute Ordinance for Council’s review and approval. If approved, Council would be authorizing an approximate $145 million General Operating Budget consisting of revenue projections and appropriations to fund various expenditures such as employees salaries and benefits and City programs and services such as police, fire, public works, license and inspections, trash collections, etc. The new budget will become effective on July 1, 2013 and will expire on June 30, 2014.